US-Israel alliance pushed toward a bitter Democratic split over Gaza war and Netanyahu

Democratic support for Israel is eroding due to the Gaza war, the Iran conflict, and Netanyahu's ties to Republicans, threatening a partisan divide. Nearly half of House Democrats voted to cut aid, and candidates critical of Israel are winning primaries. The shift is testing bipartisan consensus ahead of the Michigan Senate primary.

For generations, support for Israel united Washington. Now, Israel's attacks on Gaza, the Iran war, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close ties to US Republicans are eroding Democratic backing, threatening to turn one of America's closest alliances into a partisan divide. Support for Israel among Democratic voters has plummeted, candidates critical of Israel are winning Democratic primaries, and even moderate lawmakers are increasingly willing to challenge decades of US support. The shift is evident in Congress: this month, nearly half of House Democrats voted for a failed amendment to cut off aid to Israel. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the measure, but former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark voted yes. Democrats are divided over whether military aid should continue unchanged, be restricted to defensive weapons, or be halted. Senator Chris Coons hopes Israeli elections in October help restore bipartisan support. A Quinnipiac poll found 66% of Democrats believe the US is too supportive of Israel. The Michigan Senate primary between progressive Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens reflects the wider debate. El-Sayed called for stopping aid to Israel, accusing it of genocide and apartheid. The divide is also evident in races in New York, Florida, and Colorado.